Shloka 4
ऋभु-निदाघ-संवादः — अधः-ऊर्ध्व-दृष्टान्तेन अद्वैतबोधः (राजा-गज-उपमा) तथा मोक्षफलश्रुति
दृष्ट्वा निदाघं स ऋभुर् उपगम्याभिवाद्य च उवाच कस्माद् एकान्ते स्थीयते भवता द्विज
dṛṣṭvā nidāghaṃ sa ṛbhur upagamyābhivādya ca uvāca kasmād ekānte sthīyate bhavatā dvija
നിദാഘനെ കണ്ട ഋഭു അടുത്തുചെന്ന് വന്ദിച്ചു പറഞ്ഞു—ഹേ ദ്വിജാ, നിങ്ങൾ എന്തുകൊണ്ട് ഇവിടെ ഏകാന്തത്തിൽ നിൽക്കുന്നു?
Sage Ṛbhu (addressing Nidāgha)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Ṛbhu approaches Nidāgha, offers salutations, and begins inquiry to initiate instruction.
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: compassionate
Concept: Respectful inquiry (praśna) and humility (abhivāda) are the doorway to liberating instruction.
Vedantic Theme: Atman
Application: Approach teachers and texts with humility; ask clear questions about one’s motives for solitude or engagement rather than acting mechanically.
Vishishtadvaita: Knowledge is transmitted in a relational, grace-bearing pedagogy—teacher to disciple—rather than as isolated self-attainment.
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
In this verse, ekānta becomes the opening point for instruction: Ṛbhu’s question sets up a teaching on why one withdraws from society and what true detachment and knowledge are meant to accomplish.
It begins with a simple, respectful inquiry and unfolds as a guru-like examination of motives and understanding—using everyday situations to lead the listener toward higher discernment.
Though Vishnu is not named in this line, the episode serves the Purana’s broader aim: directing the mind from external circumstances toward the Supreme Reality (Vishnu) that underlies all states—solitude or society, action or rest.